Safety device for oil-well torpedo-shells.



ate. roses i.

Patented August 23, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrice.

IYILLIARI ll. ERNST. OF UARIETTA. OHIO. AND ADAM CUILiIlZ. .llt... OF

Tl'lL'SYILLlC. FEXXSYLYAXIA; CLARENGE E. MOSHE OF SAID CUPLER, JR.-.DECBASED.v

R ADMiSiS'l-IQXTOR SAFETY DEVICE FOR OIL-WELL TORPEDO-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,564, dated August23, 19 04,

Application filed November 13, 1902. Serial No. 131,201. (No modal.)

deviee for oil-well torpedo-shells: and it- (3011- sists in providingthe casing of the said shells with annular rubber rings, thereby prcventmg a metallic contact between the casingot' the sell and the casing ofthe torpedo, as will be fully described hereinafter.

V. hen it is necessary thatan oil-well should be torpedoe'd, from twentytotwo hundred quart of nitroglycerii'i in one or several shells is used.the said shell being simply a cylindrical receptacle several feet inlength and varying in diameter from three to six inches. some of saidshells when loaded weighing one hundred pounds. Owingto the dangerousnature of the explosive used, accidents often happen when loweringt-hese shells into the "line X X of Fig. 3.

" These cushions are formed from soft rubber,

well. due to friction, vibration, leakage of the shell, &c., and'suchaccidents often repiece of soft rubber, as shown at 5', Figs. 1

suit in the loss of life or the loss of the well by reason of theexplosion of the torpedo at an 5 undesired point.

These oil-wells range from several hundred feet to three thousand, and 1contact between the shell of the said torpedo and the walls of thecasing 6, thereby prein many cases the casing extends downward twothousand fcehfand as it is necessary to lower each individual shell bymeans of a rope it is obvious that if not done with extreme care thefriction due to its rapid downward movement, the rotary motion given bythe said rope, and the vibration of the shell all combine to causepremature explos ons.

Should one of the shells leak and leave a few drops of the fluid uponthe side walls of the casing, the following shell may by its vibrationor friction explode the said drop, and it is obvious that the shellpassing will also explode, thereby destroying the well.

By preventing the metallic shell of the torpedo from contact with themetal casing of the well by means of suitably-arnmged cash 59 ionsformed of soft rubber all such accidents above mentioned will beavoided.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of aportion of an oilwcll tubing, showing the torpedo passing 5 down, thesaidt 1pcdo being provided with cushions in accordance with myinvention. Fig.- 2 is an enlarged section showing the upper portion ofthe shell and manner of attaching the cushion thereto. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the lower portion of the shell. Fig. 4 a sectional planview taken on the Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of theshelhshowing a modilied form of the cushion. 7

To construct a torpedo-shell in accordance with ourinventimnwe form fromsheet metal a cylindrical casing or shell 1 ot' a suitable diameter andlength and provide the same with a conical point 8, a bail 2, and aninverted perforated cap 4 at the top.. Arranged at points near the topand bottom of the shell are circumferential rings or flanges 9 for thepurpose of confining cushions 5 therein.

either in theform of an annular pneumatic tube, as indicated by theligure 5, or a solid and 5.

A torpedo-shell fitted with the abovo-de- 8o scribed cushions willprevent any metallic venting premature explosions.

Various slight modifications and changes 5 may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention. r 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat.- go eat, is-

1. A torpedo of the type set forth, comprising a shell, spacedapartflanges upon the opposite ends of the shell, and a cushioning meanseitpansively held between said flanges 95 and having its interiorsurface engaging the mezms. v

A torpedo uf the type set forth r-0mpri-ing a shell, spaced-apartflangcszu-ranged aeent the opposite ends of the shell. an annmm'pneumatic tuben 'mnge-Ll about the shell am} engaged by said flanges.said tube being li-iz'iilKKl against longitudinal movement by sxeiiiflanges. and being in frictional engagement with said flanges and thatportion of the 552-513 between said flanges.

11011 throughout. flanges preventing lemginulimii movement uf saidcushioningi signmi mar names in the presence of two I scribing witnesws.

ViIn-ss'es for RV. H. Ernst:

PETER J. SL'LT, C. B. M1151).

\Vimesses far Adm n Cupler Jr R- E. Dxcmxsox, J. J. HARVEY.

In teszimeny whereof we have here w. n. ERS'ST. ADAM (JUPLER, JR

